Eating Out in Porto Santo and Vila Baleira

Most of Porto Santo’s eating-out activity is centred on Vila Baleira and the beach. Many restaurants offer a complimentary shuttle service to and from your hotel, so it’s worth asking before calling a taxi.

Pé na Água, Porto Santo Beach, tel +351 291 983 114. Hip design, hot music, and tables right on the sand. Drop in for a daytime snack, sundowners, or a great seafood dinner.

Solar do Infante, Vila Baleira seafront, behind the Centro de Artesanato, tel +351 291 985 270. A favourite among local business-folk and with chic visitors from Funchal. Spectacular glass-box design and multiple terraces offering views over the port. Excellent-value lunchtime specials, and also good roast suckling pig, and seafood rice dishes.

Restaurante Campo de Golfe, Golf Course Clubhouse, tel +351 291 983 222. The terrace offers a spectacular view over the island and out to sea. Inside, a stylish designer interior is done up in natural stone and wood, with sculpted wickerwork. High-class pasta and other Italian dishes are on offer.

Calhetas, Ponto de Calheta, Porto Santo Beach, tel +351 291 984 380. Arguably the most attractively located restaurant on the island, at the very end of the coast road. Great daytime location if you’re on the beach, or for cocktails at sunset. After that you can tuck in to superb seafood spaghetti, caldeirada (rich fish stew), and other dishes.

Mar e Sol, Porto Santo Beach, tel +351 291 982 269. Jolly family-run restaurant right on the beach. Known especially for its fragateira – big pots of homey seafood stew.

Adega das Levadas, near Mirador das Flores, tel +351 291 982 557. Hearty homemade fare such as vegetable soup, grilled chicken and bacalhau at a restaurant attached to Porto Santo’s one working wine-farm. They make the bread themselves, too, and of course there’s wine from the farm itself.

Baiana, Largo do Pelhourinho, tel +351 291 984 649. A long-standing local favourite on the main town square, for a good lunch, family dinner, or even just a snack and coffee.

Forno, Zarco Shopping Centre, tel +351 291 985 141. Good, reliable spot that serves a variety of seafood-rice dishes, as well as bacalhau and meat grills.

Teodorico / Porto Dos Frades, Serra do Dentro, eastern part of the island, tel +351 291 982 257. The place for an espetada among islanders in the know. It may no longer be cooked by old Teodorico himself, but younger members of the family carry on the tradition.

Quinta do Serrado, Sítio do Pedregal, tel 351 291 980 270. Country-style restaurant in the north, built with traditional dry-stone walling with a cosy open-hearth fire. Specialities include stewed goat and grilled octopus.

Estrela do Norte, Camacha, tel 351 291 983 500. Best bet in the inland village of Camacha, Famed for its spicy chicken piri-piri.

Gazela, Campo de Cima, tel +351 291 984 425. This little inland restaurant might not be the most stylish spot on the island, but it’s great for espetada and other grills.

Hipicenter, Sítio da Ponte, just of the beach, tel +351 291 983 258. A must for horse lovers. A cosy restaurant which overlooks an indoor manege. Sofas and an open-hearth fire add a homey touch, and there are good soups and light meals.

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